Heel cover for ladies&#39; shoes



Feb. 22, 1938. w. G. FIELD ET AL HEEL COVER FOR LADIES SHOES Filed March 7, 1955 I nvento'rs mgmwd ,2; laid Patented Feb. 22, 1938 HEEL COVER FOR LADIES SHOES Wanda Gene Field and Leslie 0. Field, Nappanee, Ind.

Application March 7, 1935, Serial No. 9,898

2 Claims.

' .Our invention relates generally to footwear, and particularly to the heels of ladies footwear, and an important object of our invention is to provide an easily installed and easily removed cover for the heels of ladies footwear, which shall be either or both decorative and protective.

Another important object of our invention is to provide. an accessory of the type indicated above which is readily attached to and detached from the heel of a ladys shoe, and which can be furnished in different colors and decorative schemes, so that individuals may easily change or add to the appearance of the heel for the purpose of matching the footwear with costumes, or for the purpose of protecting the heel during stormy weather, and for other purposes.

Another important object of our invention is to provide an accessory of the type indicated above which is adapted to be formed of relatively stiff material which is self-supporting in such a Way as to require no additional means for securing the same in place on the heel, or of other more flexible materials which can be supplemented by attaching means such as adhesive materials for securing the accessory temporarily or permanently in place on the heel.

Another important object of our invention is to provide an accessory of the type indicated above which is in either the form of a temporary attachment or in the form of a permanent part of the shoe.

Other important objects of our invention will be apparent from a reading of the following description in connection with the drawin rwherein for purposes of illustration we have shown a preferred embodiment of our invention.

In the drawing:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the present embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken through the heel portion of a lady's shoe covered with an embodiment of the invention, showing the same applied to the heel and held in place by an adhesive member.

Figure 3 is a rear elevational view of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken approximately on the line 4-4 of Figure 2 and looking downwardly.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral 5 generally designates the embodiment which, as stated above, may be formed of either resilient and flexible material, or of relatively stiff flexible material, according to whether or not a fastening member over and above and besides the device 5 is to be used. Whether a stiff material or a highly flexible material device is used, it is composed of a'main body portion 6 of sheet material which is formed and arranged to closely engage the back and sides of the heel 'l of a ladys shoe 8, as shown in Figure 2, so-as to extendfrom the very top of the heel to the lower end thereof, so

that the lower end of the embodiment is flush or slightly above the lift 8 of the heel. The body portion 6 has its upper and extending completely along and around the upper part of the heel and its upper edge provided with a narrow radially inwardly extending flange Ill which is narrowest at the point I l at the back of the embodiment and becomes wider gradually from each'side of this point to approximately the points I2 and I3 where the flange is radially inwardly further widened to provide the tabs l4 and i5 which have rounded ends I6 and H as shown in Figure l.

The forward edges I8 and I9 of the body portion 6 rise vertically from the lower end of the embodiment to the points 20 and 2| in substantially straight lines, but above these points the body edges curve upwardly and forwardly as indicated by the numerals 22 and 23 to join the outer extremity of the curved edges I5 and ll of the tabs l4 and I5, thereby reinforcing the whole flange l and especially the tabs I l and I thereof, thereby stiffening and strengthening the upper part of the main body portion 6.

Extending radially inwardly from each of the edges l8 and I9 are half elliptical flanges 24 and 25, respectively, which are arranged at an angle close to ninety degrees or less so as to properly hug the front of the heel 1.

In placing the device of the invention on a heel, the portion 1 l of the flange I0 is first engaged into the groove which exists in the shoe between the top of the heel and the bottom of the upper of the shoe, and then the side portions of the flange ID are then pushed into place in the portions of the mentioned groove which lies at the sides of the shoe, finally pushing the wide tabs l4 and into place in the same groove above the upper edge of the front of the heel. By these operations the flanges 24 and 25 will forcibly engage the front 26 of the heel. If the embodiment of the invention thus placed is formed of some suitable material such as metal or fibre or other composition which is capable of retaining its own shape and has adequate spring or flexibility, the embodiment will securely hold itself in place on the heel until it is desired to remove the same. The device is conveniently removed by inserting an instrument or the finger nail under the curved portion 23 at the outer side of the device and pulling outwardly so as to pull the tab 15 out of the groove in which it is seated. It is then a. simple matter to pull the opposite side of the device away from the heel. It may be conveniently necessary to similarly operate uponv the curved portion 22 at the instep 5 of the device in order to secure easy removal of the device from the heel.

Where the embodiment is made of material which is not inherently self-supporting and does not contain suiiicient spring character to maintain itself in engagement with the heel, an additional fastening member generally designated 21 being arranged to engage in the groove defined by the top of the heel and the adjoining strucin Figures 2 and 4 is provided to engage the outer side of the flanges 24 and 25 in such a wayas to hold the sides and back of the device as well. as the flange Hi constricted on and engaged with the heel, so that the embodiment is securely held in place until the fastening means 21 is removed; The fastening means may be a suitable adhesive member, that is, a sheet of appropriate material with adhesive stuff on its inner face arranged to be engaged with the outer side of the flanges 24 and Hand to adhere thereto, but to be at the same time sufficiently easily removable by hand, to retain the easy removability of the embodiment of the invention atthe convenience of the wearer.

Although we have shown and described herein preferred embodiments of our invention, it is to be deflnitely understood that we do not desire to limit, the applicationof our invention thereto, and any change or changes may be made in the materials, and in the structure and arrangement of the parts, within thespirit of the invention and the scope of the subjoined claims.

The fasteningmeans 2.1 may also be used with the self-supporting type of heel cover if desired. It is also to be noted that the heel cover may be used on the bare heel as the only cover therefor or over a heel which is already covered by some material.

What is claimed is:

1. A removable and replaceable protective device for the heel of a shoe, said device comprising a shaped covering of self-supporting material conformable to the, shape of and to overlie only the back andsidesof the, heel, laterally inwardly extending flange means on and extending around the upper edge of said covering, said flange means ture of the shoe for holding the device on theheel, said flange means including laterally inwardly widened portions at the front ends of said upper edge of the covering.

2. A. removable and replaceable protective device for the heel of a shoe, said device comprising a shaped covering of self-supporting material conformable to the shape of and to overlie'only.

the back and sides of the heel, laterally inwardly extendingflangemeans on and extending around the upper edge of said covering, said flange means being arranged to engage in the groove deflned by thetop of the heel and the adjoining structure of; the'shoe, flanges on the front edges of'said covering and engaging the front of the heel, and

an adhesive member lying between and afflxedto said flanges for holding said covering in place on the, heel.

- WANDA GENE FIELD.

LESLIE O. FIELD. 

